In Defense of Rick Perry and His "Brain Freeze" at the 2012 Republican Presidential Debate - A Moderate's View [103]

TO ME, MORE EMBARASSING than Governor Rick Perry's memory gaffe is the media, pundits, and even some of those within his own party's ridiculous overreaction to it! In the two days of non-stop criticism of those very long 57 seconds heard across the nation, Perry was caricatured in an extremely disrespectful way, and not just by the liberal's and moderates; the Conservative pundits were having a field-day with him as well, unbelievable.

Herman Cain had it right, in an interview immediately after the debate, he said something to the effect, " the American people are a forgiving people and this episode will not end his [Perry] campaign, other things might, but not this." (Of course, Herman Cain is really hoping the American people are very forgiving regarding his own current problems as well.) This lapse of memory, standing on its own, should be good for a few laughs for a day or two, and then forgotten.

Only one pundit that I listened to put this fax paux in its proper perspective. He said, taken alone, it means nothing, but added to the rest of Rick Perry's less than stellar performances, then one must begin to wonder about his fitness for such a high office; I must agree with that assessment.

For me, there is only one event that stands out in my mind that would influence my vote, all by itself, when standing in the voting booth and that was in the first debate when he turned to Governor Romney and was at the same time rude, disrespectful, wrong, arrogant, overbearing, and boorish. It spoke volumes that told of what I perceive as his lack of personal character, which is significantly different from an unfortunate spat of forgetfulness that even professional orators and singers experience.